Apple has topped Fortune's most admired companies list for the sixth
consecutive year, with Google second and Amazon third.

Fortune said Apple "remains a financial juggernaut, posting $13 billion in net income last quarter, making it the most profitable company in the world during that period. The company has its fanatical customer base, and it still refuses to compete on price."

Apple, which first appeared in the top 50 in 2006, scored 8.24 on Fortune's rating system, ahead of Google with 8.01 and Amazon on 7.28. Those companies have made up the top three for the last four years.

A recent survey by Harris Interactive said Amazon had overtaken Apple to become 'America's most respected' firm, with Disney third and Google fourth.

The Fortune survey for 2013 featured a strong showing by technology firms. IBM was sixth, Microsoft was 17th and Samsung was at 35.

Fortune's most admired company ratings are based on research by Hays consultants, who ask directors and analysts in 30 countries to rank the companies on nine criteria, including innovation, quality of management and financial soundness.

After the three technology companies at the top of the list, Coca Cola was in fourth place, followed by Stabucks in fifth.

Just eight of the companies on the list were based outside the US, including BMW (14), Toyota (29) and Nestle (32).